The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-24
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A REVOLT IN THE RANKS.
DISSENTING KNIGHTS OF LABOR
ISSUE A CIRCULAR.

Thirty-flve Delegates, Representing
Fifteen States in the Minneapolis
Convention, Meet at Chicago and De-
termine to Bring About a Reorgani-
zation of the Order.
CHICAGO, Oct 23-The dissenters from
the action taken at the Minneapolis conven-
ton have declared open war with the Ex-
ecutive Board of the Knights of Labor, and
have issued their declaration of independ-
ence. On returning from the convention
about thirty-iive delegates, representing
fifteen States, stopped in Chicago, and
determined to bring about a reorgan-
ization of the order. They elected pro.
visional committee of five members, of
which Charles f. Seib was made Secretary.
A long communication, which was drafted
at Secretary Seib's Office to-day, viii bs
forwarded tomorrow in circular form to
the Knights of Labor all over the country
Following is the communication:
HEADQUARTERS Provisional COMMITTEE,
CHICAGO, Oct. 23, 1897,
To the Rallk and FlIe Of the Order Of ths
Knights Of Labor:
Indignant at the usurpation of power and
gross violation of the laws of our order by thosa
ulKn IN authority, ulSguSted with those whose
loyalty TO the present ring has been gained hy
the pickngs they receive as q reward for their
services, incensed at the fawning sycophgnts
who crawl on their knees in slavish Submission
to the most corrupt, most hypocritcal, most
autocratic and tyrannical ring that has ever
controlled any labor organization, therefore
aff1rm the motto of our order, that when bad
tbey e viii fall 00' one muS' bS SSS0Gp apc etSs as
unpitied sacrifice in a contemplate struggle.
We assert that the hour has come when, as
honest men and women, we declare ourselves
independent of those who have abused the con-
hdence reposed in them by our order Our duty
to working men and women demands that ws
at once reorganize the order Of the Knights Of
Labor on a basis which will secure autonomy OF
trades aud sovereignty of districts in all per-
tanning to their trade and local affairs, and pre-
vent it from being used in the future as q ma
scrupulous men, as it is by those now in power.
THE REASONS ALLEGED.
The circular then recites the reasons which
have compelled this serious action and
which are that the general officers have orr
Sanized conspiracy 10 enable them to hold
on to the salaried Offices, which they use
for selfish purposes; that they have misap-
propriated money Of the order TO pay fa-
vored persons, general lecturers, general or
ganizers, etc. extravagant sums for useless
services; that the district and local assem-
blies known to be hostile to the plans Of
the conspirators have been suspended or ex-
PEELED; that the records of the general
office have been fixed or doctored to admit
or rule out, as the case might be General
Assembly representatives; that extravagant
hotel bills have been contracted; that finds
of the order have been donated and loaned
to officers and their families; that the con.
stitution has been altered in an illegal man
ner; that it has been tampered with and
measures inimical to the interests of
the order at large have been
railroaded into what is called law; that war
has been waged by the administration ring
against trades unions and trades districts;
that the motto of the ring has been Down
with trades districts, exterminate trades
unions" this in spite of our obligation to
extend a helping hand to all branches OF
honorable toll, and that finally as a result
of this laundering, w:shy-washy, incon-
petent and stupidity arbitrary policy the
membership Of the order has decreased
2f7,924 members in one year The
circular then requests all local and district
assemblies in ao rd with the above declara-
ton or desirous OF information to please adj
dress Charles F. Seib, Secretary of the Pro-
visional Committee.